THE ARMY BRAT
Adapted by Cpl (ret) "Durty" Dan Leger
You know you are a military brat if you...
...actually like the clothes at the CanEx and don't mind that 100 other people are wearing the same thing.
...all your former very best friends are as long gone as your last move.
...answer the question "where are you from" with "I'm kinda from all over the place."
...are able to imitate others' speech patterns easily.
...are amazed at people who have lived somewhere more than three years.
...are amazed at people who have never left their hometown.
...are amazed at people who have who have never seen foreign currency.
...are asked is it hard always moving around when you don't know anything different.
...can bounce a quarter off your bedsheets and have hospital corner on your bed.
...can talk to anyone and everyone from anywhere and everywhere.
...conceal your father's rank because once people find out he's an officer they'll never treat you the same.
...have heard kids arguing and ending it with , "Well MY father's a WARRENT . . ."
...didn't save things so you wouldn't go over the weight allowance of the next move.
...do not understand why many of your friends are afraid to be in an airplane.
...don't feel quite right seeing military personnel younger than you.
...ever got sick eating chocolate field rations.
...every room you've ever had was stark white and you couldn't put nail holes in the walls.
...feel more at home on a military base than in town even though you've been a civilian for 26years.
...find that you can easily amuse yourself for hours at airports, train or bus stations.
...get the itch to move every 3-4 years and forever feel like the outsider in the civilian world.
...give someone a break because they are in the military.
...graduated from a high school you only attended for a year.
...had a father who was always telling to "police the area".
...had a pup-tent in your yard until your parents found out what was going on in there.
...had Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in a mess hall
...had your introductory speech prepared and memorized for your first day at a new school .
...have been hit on at the young age of 13 by men in uniform.
...hear the sound of freedom when military aircraft fly by while civilians complain about the noise.
...inexplicably have the urge to move to a new place every year for no reason at all.
...knew the rank and name of the kid next door's father before meeting the kid next door.
...know how to pack a barracks box.
...know what a repelling tower is and after a few beers - thought it made good sense to climb one.
...been brought home by the MP's.
...made better grades in geography because you'd been to the places you were studying.
...meet another military brat sometime somewhere and are instantly bonded.
...never quite finished decorating your place because you knew you'd be moving soon.
...notice Tom Cruise in uniform, outside with no hat and having a non-regulation haircut in Top Gun.
...polished your fathers boots and brass for his upcoming inspection.
...realize that the latest fashion in the states is not the same clothes you bought on base.
...still do yard detail!
...talk to someone with an accent and pick it up yourself.
...tell everyone you are from a town that you haven't lived in since you were 4 years old.
...think locals have such a limited perspective.
...think of your childhood neighbours Fathers and Mothers by their rank.
...thought all doctors issued all purpose capsules for every ache and pain.
...thought aspirin came in 5,000 count bottles.
...use words like "too easy", "stupid civvies" and "get a grip on your slack and idle body".
...were more interested in your new friend's father's rank than what colour your friend was.
...when you see a homeless person and somehow feel spiritually related
...when your civilian boss has to ask you more than once not to say Yes sir and No sir.
...wondered who your new best friend would be as you enroll in yet another school.
...you are confused when your fiance talks about watching trees grow large in front of the house.
...you graduate from 12th grade and it's your 13th school .
..know posting meant pack your toys and say see ya later.
..were in your late teens before you realized flashlight batteries came in any color but OD.
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